Cleavage at work...how much is too much?

messyinthekitchen

I would encourage that type of behavior

Lol expect this answer from men!!! What man would cares if a woman is flaunting her assets. Me on the other hand, I honestly wouldn't care at all. Let her do her. If she's breaking any dress code the boss should bring up the subject. I don't quite understand how another woman's cleavage offends anyone.

mampm1

There usually is a dress code in a workplace environment. I would suggest you take a look at it and if it is not being enforced, I suggest you do otherwise the behavior becomes commonplace and you will lose the opportunity for reprimand.

I have been a boss and have had to instruct a woman to "cover up". I always did it in private, but with another woman present so that there could be no chance of misconstruing the conversation or to categorize it as innuendo.

On the other hand to steal from Bill Mahr: "New Rules: If you are going to wear clothing that is tight and revealing, then I am going to look!"

starwhisperer

doesn't offend me at all. And I have never had a shirt of any sort that caused my chest to get less eye contact than my face... and that includes turtlenecks. Boobs are apparently just more fun to look at Really unless you are the boss and it is hurting business I can't see how it matters.

pwrchrd

Cleavage, never enough! Really, if your going to flaunt it, then flaunt it, but don't be surprise when your oogled.

_Johanna_

I just keep remembering that scene from that movie with Julia Roberts, where she plays Erin Brochovich and her lawyer boss asks her to cover herself up more because it is making the other workers feel uncomfortable and its not professional... yeah, it didn't go over so well either! Honestly, unless a customer complains or seems put off by it, I would just let things be!

fbmandy55

Considering I work in a two-person office and my boss has fake boobs that almost blind you, I don't worry much.


As long as you can't see any nipples and the sides are covered well, I don't see a problem with cleavage.

Bankman1989

This is a situation we're discussing here at work...what do you guys think?

Women's Question:
If a woman you work with constantly wears shirts that are too revealing for the office, would you be offended? For example, low cut shirts that require a cami underneath, but she wears it without one. Would you say something to the woman about it?

Men's Question:
Let's say you're the boss, and one of your female employees has a habit of wearing shirts that are too revealing, how would you handle it.

I say the more the merrier..unless they're NOT cute! LOL

But seriously..no that was my serious answer. I love boobies!!!

flaquitadelafrontera

My theory (for myself) is if you have to question it, don't wear it. I'm not offended by what other employees wear. I figure what they choose to wear reflects upon them, not me.

Spitcan

Cleavage, never enough! Really, if your going to flaunt it, then flaunt it, but don't be surprise when your oogled.

exactly. who doesnt enjoy cleavage??? just dont get mad when people look at it!

ilookthetype

I only worry about my own boobs. HR exists for a reason/

quichebradford

This is a situation we're discussing here at work...what do you guys think?

Women's Question:
If a woman you work with constantly wears shirts that are too revealing for the office, would you be offended? For example, low cut shirts that require a cami underneath, but she wears it without one. Would you say something to the woman about it?

Men's Question:
Let's say you're the boss, and one of your female employees has a habit of wearing shirts that are too revealing, how would you handle it.

@Quiche Shame on you, women can be the boss too!!!

But in response to your question, I would only say something if it was enough to make a meeting with a client difficult or uncomfortable. Evan though a gentleman may appreciate the view, if its too much exposure they are forced to constantly avert their eyes and that is just a poor business practice.

LOL!! I didn't want to be selfish towards the men!

kstep88

I think the point should be to look professional in a business environment. I am "chesty", so I wear cami's under my dress shirts. A little will still obviously show. Some women can't hide all they have. As one person posted “it would require wearing a turtleneck". I agree with that. It just depends on this persons behavior and if the cleavage is taking away from people being able to concentrate at work. If she is bearing it all, then I'd say it's inappropriate

A manager should address the concern if it is causing a disruption in the work place. With that being said, if it is a male superior he should have a female present and the conversation documented so he is not charged with anything…..It’s very easy for that to go the wrong way,,

Also, there should be a glance into the companies dress code. If she isn't breaking any rules, you can't really do anything.

P.S I worked in HR for a long time, so that’s where my advice is coming from. 

foxxybrown

I think it's distasteful in a conservative corporate environment. HR at my job has addressed ladies with inappropriate attire. At one point in time we were so strict that ladies could not wear capris so tatas would definitely be a no no. LOL.

astovey

<<this much

wriglucy

In an office....you need to be professional. Letting the girls hang out isn't professional. In a club or whatever...then that's up to you. But office work, needs to be professional and modest, and the emphasis needs to be on the work, not some girls ta's hanging out.

I wouldn't be offended....but I really don't think it's professional to let them pop out.

BellySoonGone

I am tired of people being so uptight - getting "offended" by this or that...To me this is just little stuff when there is hunger in Somalia a bad economy, fires/floods and so on....

BellySoonGone

I bartend, you can never show too much cleavage when you're behind a bar haha

Where is this bar? LOL

Helenatrandom

I think Jewel had a great idea. If there is a dress code, kindly remind her of it before a superior does. (If there isn't a dress code, and this disturbs you, you could approach HR)

LaDiablesse

I would encourage that type of behavior

lol I think that's the motto my current boss goes by

macpatti

I am tired of people being so uptight - getting "offended" by this or that...To me this is just little stuff when there is hunger in Somalia a bad economy, fires/floods and so on....

There will always be world issues. That does not mean that other, daily issues are unimportant. They're just on a different scale. I cannot tell anyone else what should or shouldn't offend them. As a manager (or HR rep), if someone's behavior or dress is offensive to another, it has to be dealt with. I am not personally offended by cleavage, but there is a time and place. Beach- go ahead. Bar/nightclub- fine. Pharmacy sales rep wanting to impress doctors- do your thang. It is not appropriate attire for "business dress" policies, not okay if you're a teacher, not okay if you work with children or teens, etc. Some people do not know what is appropriate dress (OP knows about this because we used to work together). It's up to HR or their immediate supervisor to inform them.

maysflower

Women's Question:
If a woman you work with constantly wears shirts that are too revealing for the office, would you be offended? For example, low cut shirts that require a cami underneath, but she wears it without one. Would you say something to the woman about it?

ANSWER - Wearing low cut or revealing tops in a work environment is inappropriate. You can look sexy, and feel sexy without having your boobs hanging out all over the place. Yes I would say something, and I have said something. Our 20 year old receptionist kept wearing skirts that were too short and tops that were too low, so I called her out on it.

Men's Question:
Let's say you're the boss, and one of your female employees has a habit of wearing shirts that are too revealing, how would you handle it.

ANSWER - If you don't already have a dress code in place, put one in place and send out a memo to all employees. If you do have a dress code in place, I would remind that employee of the dress code.

vaderandbill

I had a staff that used to wear shirts that showed her cleavage and you could tell her nipples were pierced. I work with troubled adolescent boys. I had a female administrator from another department address it.

jase69

I work at home...so if there was any cleavage going on while my wife wasnt there, I dont think she would be too happy!

SueInAz

I work in a pretty straight-laced and serious industry. I personally feel that any cleavage in a professional office environment is too much. I'd rather not have the men who work here (or the women, either!) think of me as anything other than a complete professional. Flashing your cleavage around is usually bound to get you the completely wrong kind of attention.

Even in the past, when I've worked for completely casual and laid-back companies, I was pretty leery of wearing anything that showed any cleavage. I usually wore jeans and a t-shirt or similar top. I worked with a bunch of guys who were all in the their late 20s and early 30s and most of them single. It's been a few years after we were all laid off from that job (they closed the office in our city completely) and I've run into a few of them since then. I now hear stories how some of them were STILL talking about me and my body even though I was completely covered up. I can't imagine what would have been said if I'd dressed in a more revealing manner.

ETA: I'm not big chested at all. I'm about a 36B or 34C depending on the bra. It definitely wasn't that I couldn't hide them!

raevynn

I work in a very professional environment. While there are, unfortunately, a few "ladies" who feel that the dress code is "corporate sl*t", most tend to dress in line with the image our department wants to project.

I have a tendency to look towards upper management women for my cues on proper attire.

Liquid741

pictures or it never happened...

alex215

This is a situation we're discussing here at work...what do you guys think?



Men's Question:
Let's say you're the boss, and one of your female employees has a habit of wearing shirts that are too revealing, how would you handle it.

The obvious way to handle this situation is to stare.

engineman312

this thread is worthless without pictures.

wriglucy

this thread is worthless without pictures.

wow...sad

idiocracy

Enforce a dress code. Not even toes are professional. And too much cleavage is when you can see where the breasts begin, which is too much Also, clothes may cover, but be too tight. Professional is when you can't tell the outline or color of the undergarments.